a blessed day.

Every day is blessed.

But some days,

the really special ones,

it’s as if you can taste the sweetness that pours forth,

like a bright cherry popsicle on a hot summer day!

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When we contemplate the blessings of faith even now, as if gazing at a reflection in a mirror, it is, as if we already possessed the wonderful things which our faith assures us we shall one day enjoy.”  (CCC163)

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The word of the Lord came to me, saying:  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” 

Jeremiah 1:4-5

The Gift of Love

“Brothers & sisters:  Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.  But I shall show you a still more excellent way.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;  but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.  And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 12:31- 13:13

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“In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.  In your justice rescue me, and deliver me: incline your ear to me, and save me.  Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71: 1-2, 3

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“For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth.  On you I depend from birth; from my mothre’s womb you are my strength.” Psalm 71: 5-6

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“My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation.  O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeeds.” Psalm 71: 15, 17

What were the blessings you received today?

3hugs n’ blessings to all the popsicle eaters, no matter which flavor you enjoyed!

pumpkin patch

it’s the monday giggles…

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and autumnn is falling quickly upon us!

I love, love, love, love, love Fall! 

I love the cooler temperatures that force us into jean-jackets and warm sweaters. I love plaid ponchoes and crochete-shawls draped over the shoulders.  I love the colors of the changing leaves and the sounds of “swish” & “crunch” walking through them beneath my feet. Not to mention the glee at jumping into a huge pile raked all together and the giggles from friends as they pick out the remnants left behind in my leaf-tossed hair!

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And of course it won’t be too very long until we sip on fresh-pressed local cider from Fuhrman’s before heading off to discover a resplendent pumpkin patch!

(A most magical place to be reminded of a forum by the great Philospher, Linus.)

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Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He’s gotta pick this one. He’s got to. I don’t see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there’s not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.” Linus

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And I can’t help but to think, “Isn’t it so too with our God?”

Most Christians agree that sitting with God

is excellent therapy

for a troubled mind.

Indeed!”

Dawn Marie

God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all of the dirt off. Then, He cuts the top off and scoops out all of the yucky stuff. He removes seeds of doubt, hate, greed, unforgiveness, etc. Then, He carves a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see!

Are you letting your light shine?

I do so verily hope you will join me in making THIS autumn one you will endeavor to

Shine for Jesus!

What will you be carving this year?

Here’s a few suggestions from me!

(Except let’s turn those Minion frowns upside-down!)

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( Giggles!)

A Pumpkin-Carving Prayer

(To be used while carving your pumpkin!)

{cut off top of pumpkin}
Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.
{remove innards}
Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.
Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.
{cut open eyes}
Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.
{cut out nose}
I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the goodness you provide.
{cut out mouth}
Let everything I say please You.
{light the candle}
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do!

Amen.

hugs n’ blessings for all the light you bring to me and countless others!

Gardenias & a magic-wand!

My favorite flower in the whole wide world is…

the Gardenia!

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My very own home-grown Gardenia!

There is something romantically nostalgic

about this flower for me.

I have always called upon the gardenia

for the (most) special moments of my life.

And it has never disappointed me!

Like the fairy-godmother in Cinderella

who waves her magic-wand which turns

pumpkins into carriages,

I truly feel like the transformed pumpkin each time I am near one.

No wonder it was the flower at my wedding

and every birth of my children

and all the Mother’s Days there-after!

Not to mention, I am quite certain my family will know

which flower should be at my wake!

(giggles.)

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One of the fondest memories I have of the Gardenia was on our Wedding Day some 30 years ago, walking down the aisle of St. Joseph’s Church with my cascading bouquete of Gardenias clutched tightly in my hands! The elderly women in attendance commented how, “We could smell the gardenias as you walked down the aisle toward your groom!”

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And I do so very hope it will be the same with Jesus one day!

As an eternal bride, with her favorite flower, headed toward her beloved Bridegroom…in Heaven.  And I do verily hope He will be just as pleased by the fragrance, as I process toward Him.

But first, by the grace of God,

I have a few more Gardenias here in this earthly world to enjoy!

This potted miniature-gardenia plant was gifted to me by two very dear friends for my 50th birthday celebration!

Last count it had 48 gardenia-buds waiting to burst into bloom!

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These two Gardenias, outside our sun-porch, were purchased during a “surprise-BOGO” at a local nursery! Lucky me!

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The Gardenia’s are beautiful this year because of the unusually high-humidity we have had during the summer months.  I wish I could explain the giddy-feeling I have each time I walk outside from the sunroom and am struck by the heavy-aroma from the fresh blooms!  My joy is especially heightened, as this is the first time I have ever been able to wear a Gardenia, tucked in my hair or behind an ear, without needing to purchase it from my favorite people at Allburn’s Florists.

I have done a lot of research on preserving my potted bushes during the cold Northeastern US winters; however, saddly it doesn’t sound promising.  My research also suggests “even if” you are successful in nursing the bushes through the winter months indoors, it is difficult to get the bushes to rebloom the following year.

Can you hear my sad-sighs?

However,  as I am learning this new knowledge of the Gardenia it has helped me to appreciate the gift I’ve been given with these 3 ‘make-me-smile’ bushes even more!  What a blessing to remember how important it is to fully embrace the joy which is given to us in the moment...for we never really know if we will always have it in our midst.

Yes, God is constantly teaching me!

Whether it is through the wave of a magic-wand,

the surprise of an unexpected sale,

the heat of an unusually humid summer,

or a favorite flower readily available to be tucked in my hair…

life should be appreciated fully (in the) NOW.

And praise be, He allows the fragrance from the joy to linger with us,

even when it’s gone.

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A dried Gardenia from Mother’s Day 2016

3hugs n’ blessings for all the pumpkins turning into carriages in our everyday lives!